Page 94 of The Homemaker

“You, of course.”

“You’re here to see me for no particular reason?” I gulp half the glass of water.

“I am. It’s called being a mom. I didn’t stop loving you and wanting to be with you just because you decided to become anadult.”

“What are you talking about?” I set the glass on the counter and sit on the opposite end of the sofa. “I haveyetto decide to be an adult. I hear it’s overrated.”

She laughs. “Horribly overrated. I actually have PTO to use, so I took five days to visit my favorite person in the world.”

“But Henry Cavill was busy, so you’re visiting me instead?”

“Exactly.” She tugs the decor pillow out from behind her back and throws it at me.

I catch it and giggle. “I’m honored. And I’m glad you’re here. Had I known, I would have taken some time off. They’ll still probably let me work some half days so we can hang out.”

“Can they be without theirhomemakerfor very long?” She shoots me the hairy eyeball.

“This might be the best job ever. It’s like a job in the theater only there is no standing ovation. I have a costume with an apron, and I wear my hair in a sleek 1950s ponytail.”

“Well, now I want to see your performance.”

I smirk. “I bet you’ll get invited to breakfast or dinner where you can see me in action.”

She sighs. “My daughter, the homemaker. I couldn’t be more proud.” I sense a lot of sarcasm in her tone.

“Well, I have no rent. And I make a lot more than you do, so mock me if you must, but it’s a damn good job.”

Her eyes widen.

“But if I could request that you not overshare every little detail about my life, I’d appreciate it.”

“Sweetie, the car accident is hardly alittledetail. And you’re the one who told them you were in a mental hospital. Why did you do that?”

“Because I like toying with them. Getting a reaction. And I knew they’d be more likely to believe that it was a joke than the truth.”

“You’re a pill, young lady. And I was nervous about seeing the man who called us to come get you the night you had a breakdown. Murphy, right? Have you said anything to him yet?”

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s out in the open, at least between us. But now it’s just weird.”

“How so?”

“Because he’s marrying Blair.”

“So?”

“She doesn’t know about us.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t want her to. So what’s the big deal?”

I take a quick breath, readying the words to spew from my mouth on instinct. Then I let them die in silence because she doesn’t know. The day we talked about it on the phone, I avoided answering her question because she asked it in such an incredulous way.

“Alice?”

I lift my gaze.

Her brow furrows. “You don’t—” She shakes her head slowly.

“I was going to go back to him.Forhim. But then I fell apart before his eyes, and fate had other plans for me. And for him.”